Haralick texture feature analysis for Monte Carlo dose distributions of permanent implant prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: Demonstrate quantitative characterization of 3D patient-specific absorbed dose distributions using Haralick texture analysis, and interpret measures in terms of underlying physics and radiation dosimetry.

Methods: Retrospective analysis is performed for 137 patients who underwent permanent implant prostate brachytherapy using two simulation conditions: "TG186" (realistic tissues including 0-3.8% intraprostatic calcifications; interseed attenuation) and "TG43" (water-model; no interseed attenuation).

Endophilin A2 Deficiency Impairs Antibody Production in Humans.

Endophilin A2, the sole endophilin A family member expressed in hematopoietic cells, regulates various aspects of membrane dynamics, including autophagy and endocytosis. Recent studies in rodents highlight the essential role of endophilin A2 in modulating immune responses. Here we report a homozygous frameshift variant in the SH3GL1 gene (NM_003025.

Serosusceptibility and hesitancy for booster HBV vaccination among health care workers in Italy: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV). The most effective prevention measure is vaccination, with a serum hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titre > 10 mIU/ml considered protective. To date, the sociodemographic and occupational characteristics related to HBV serosusceptibility and factors associated with booster hesitancy remain unclear.

How widespread use of generative AI for images and video can affect the environment and the science of ecology.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) models will have broad impacts on society including the scientific enterprise; ecology and environmental science will be no exception. Here, we discuss the potential opportunities and risks of advanced generative AI for visual material (images and video) for the science of ecology and the environment itself. There are clearly opportunities for positive impacts, related to improved communication, for example; we also see possibilities for ecological research to benefit from generative AI (e.

Association between exposure to wind turbines and sleep disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To date, there is scarce evidence on the association between sleep disorders and noise generated by wind turbines. We searched six relevant electronic databases from the inception to May 2023 for relevant articles. The methodological quality of the included articles was evaluated using the US National Institutes of Health tool.

Peritoneal inclusion cysts in an adolescent female: A case report and review of the literature.

Several studies have shown that most peritoneal inclusion cysts (PIC) cases occur almost exclusively in women of childbearing age and patients who have had abdominal or pelvic surgery. We report a case of PIC diagnosed in a 19 years old single adolescent female with chronic pelvic pain and secondary amenorrhea with no prior history of abdominal surgery. A multilocular abnormality in the pelvis and a septated pelvic fluid encompassing the ovaries and extending to the right iliac fossa was revealed by ultrasound images and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), respectively.

Compact high-efficiency energy harvesting positive and negative DC supplies voltage for battery-less CMOS receiver.

In this paper, novel compact high-efficiency multi-band rectifiers that supply positive and negative output voltages are demonstrated for energy harvesting applications. The proposed voltage doubler circuits are used as real DC voltage supplies of radio frequency mm-wave CMOS receivers. Operating multi-band rectifiers have a complicated structure that required more resonance networks to force the rectifier to work in multi-band.

Haralick texture analysis for microdosimetry: characterization of Monte Carlo generated 3D specific energy distributions.

Explore the application of Haralick textural analysis to 3D distributions of specific energy (energy imparted per unit mass) scored in cell-scale targets considering varying mean specific energy (absorbed dose), target volume, and incident spectrum.Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate specific energy distributions in cell-scale water voxels ((1m)-(15m)) irradiated by photon sources (mean energies: 0.02-2 MeV) to varying mean specific energies (10-400 mGy).

Can we offer additional BCG therapy for three-month BCG refractory high grade/T1, Tis bladder cancer patients?

Background: We lack tools to predict treatment and survival outcomes in patients receiving additional BCG therapy as a bladder-preserving therapy in high grade/T1, Tis NMIBC patients who showed persistent/recurrent tumors at three-month follow-up.

Objectives: To assess the predictors of additional BCG response in patients who experienced persistent/recurrent tumors at three-month follow-up after BCG induction.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed database for NMIBC.

Contemporary Monoclonal Antibody Utilization in Glomerular Diseases.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been one of the fastest growing drug classes in the past 2 decades and are indicated in the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders, solid organ transplantation, and glomerular diseases. The Food and Drug Administration has approved 100 MAbs between 1986 and 2021, and MAbs account for 20% of Food and Drug Administration's new drug approval every year. MAbs are preferred over traditional immunosuppressive agents because of their high specificity, reduced number of drug-drug interactions, and low toxicity, which make them a prime example of personalized medicine.

Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection before Vaccination among European Health Care Workers.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) were on the frontline of the current pandemic. We aimed at identifying determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effectiveness of personal protection equipment (PPE) worn by HCWs before vaccination.

Methods: We abstracted data on SARS-CoV-2 infection based on positive PCR results and sociodemographic characteristics of 38,793 HCWs from public hospitals and public health authorities from 10 European centers.

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Unilateral acute maculopathy is a rare inflammatory macular disorder believed to be caused by viral infection, especially Coxsackievirus. It most commonly affects young healthy adults. This is a case report of unilateral acute maculopathy in a 28-year-old man with concurrent hand, foot and mouth disease.

Audit of clinical follow-up and complications after acute pulmonary embolism in an Australian Metropolitan Health Service.

We explored post-pulmonary embolism (post-PE) follow-up at a large Australian regional city hospital health service. Over a 12-month period, we identified 195 (49% male) patients with a median age of 62 years. Post-PE follow-up was not organised for 23 patients and delayed for seven patients.

POLD3 deficiency is associated with severe combined immunodeficiency, neurodevelopmental delay, and hearing impairment.

Combined immunodeficiency diseases (CID) represent the most severe forms of inborn errors of immunity. Defective T cell development and/or function, leading to an impairment in adaptive immunity are responsible for these diseases. The DNA polymerase δ complex is important for genome duplication and maintenance and consists of the catalytic subunit POLD1, and the accessory subunits POLD2 and POLD3 which stabilizes the complex.

The Impact of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir in Reducing Hospitalizations Among High-Risk Patients With SARS-CoV-2 During the Omicron Predominant Era.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality in high-risk populations. Several therapeutics have been developed to reduce the risk of complications related to COVID-19, hospitalizations, and death. In several studies, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NR) was reported to reduce the risk of hospitalizations and death.

Haralick texture feature analysis for characterization of specific energy and absorbed dose distributions across cellular to patient length scales.

To investigate an approach for quantitative characterization of the spatial distribution of dosimetric data by introducing Haralick texture feature analysis in this context.Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate 3D arrays of dosimetric data for 2 scenarios: (1) cell-scale microdosimetry: specific energy (energy imparted per unit mass) in cell-scale targets irradiated by photon spectra (I,Ir, 6 MV); (2) tumour-scale dosimetry: absorbed dose in voxels for idealized models ofI permanent implant prostate brachytherapy, considering 'TG186' (realistic tissues including 0% to 5% intraprostatic calcifications; interseed attenuation) and 'TG43' (water model, no interseed attenuation) conditions. Five prominent Haralick features (homogeneity, contrast, correlation, local homogeneity, entropy) are computed and trends are interpreted using fundamental radiation physics.

Assessing population substructure in the Lebanese population: A population study using data on 23 autosomal short tandem repeats.

Background: Understanding the genetic substructure of a population is essential for proper forensic genetic analysis. The Lebanese population has a high rate of endogamous and consanguineous marriages and is segregated based on religious belongings. However, no genetic population studies have been performed up to date to estimate the degree of genetic substructure and inbreeding coefficients.

The impact of COVID-19 on hospital-based workers influenza vaccination uptake: A two-year retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: This study aimed at exploring 2020/2021 and 2019/2020 seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among healthcare and non-healthcare workers, hereafter hospital-based workers (HBWs); examining attitudes and motivations for uptake in the 2020/2021 season; and exploring the amount, types, and sources of information used by HBWs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Socio-demographics, working profile, working area, and vaccination status data were collected.

Effectiveness of prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among unvaccinated Italian healthcare workers.

Background: We aimed to investigate the association between personal protective equipment (PPE) use and SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: We analyzed occupational surveillance contact forms followed by a PCR test notified between March and September 2020 by Italian HCWs. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for positive PCR based on HCWs and contacts characteristics were calculated through multivariable logistic regression models.

Vaccination Confidence among Healthcare Workers: Results from Two Anamnestic Questionnaires Adopted in the COVID-19 and Influenza Campaign.

Background: Following the announcement of the development of COVID-19 vaccines, hesitancy about the safety of vaccinations and their side effects have spread, despite having the approval of international drug agencies. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that concern about side effects may have led people to fill out the COVID-19 anamnestic vaccine questionnaire with greater attention compared to the similar instrument used for the influenza vaccination.

Methods: We analyzed vaccination questionnaires of 218 healthcare workers (HCWs) who underwent both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in 2020/2021.

Hereditary Folate Malabsorption presenting as neutropenic fever in a newborn from the first Palestinian family with the novel SLC46A1-mutation, A-case-report.

Introduction And Importance: Hereditary Folate Malabsorption (HFM) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder with in the existence of only 30 families world-wide. It presents with hematological, gastrointestinal, and neurological problems.

Case Presentation: Three-month-old-boy with a familial history of HFM presented to the clinic due to persistent fatigue, yellowish discoloration, feeding refusal, and pancytopenia.

SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infections: Incidence and Risk Factors in a Large European Multicentric Cohort of Health Workers.

Background: The research aimed to investigate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and their determinants in a large European cohort of more than 60,000 health workers.

Methods: A multicentric retrospective cohort study, involving 12 European centers, was carried out within the ORCHESTRA project, collecting data up to 18 November 2021 on fully vaccinated health workers. The cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections was investigated with its association with occupational and social-demographic characteristics (age, sex, job title, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody titer levels, and time from the vaccination course completion).

Study of level of the precautionary measures taken by parents and the impact of COVID 2019 on children daily life during curfew.

Background: COVID-19 has caused many changes in all communities world-wildly, at many levels, leaving us to reset our priorities and needs. All that for the sake of surviving this pandemic. But children played the least important role in these rearrangements, or at least this how the community handled it.

Navigating the initial diagnosis and management of adult IgA vasculitis: A review.

Background: IgA vasculitis in adults has not been thoroughly studied. This has left a practice gap related to the management and follow-up of a population that is at an increased risk of comorbidities and potentially poor outcomes. For this reason, it is important to synthesize evidence from the current literature because this can help direct the movement for more robust studies to clarify best practice recommendations.

Factor V deficiency with a unique genetic mutation presenting as post-circumcision bleeding in a neonate, A-case-report.

Introduction And Importance: Factor V deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder with varying presentations from minor mucosal bleeding to a life-threatening postoperative bleed. Currently, treatment is mainly supportive with Fresh Frozen Plasma.

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 14-day-old male presented with an uncontrollable bleeding following a circumcision.